Dozens of Sloths Die Before Sloth World Opens in Orlando
Dozens of Sloths Die Before Sloth World Opens in Orlando
Investigators link a Florida warehouse and transport conditions to the death of 31 sloths ahead of Sloth World’s planned opening in Orlando.
In Orlando, a planned wildlife attraction called Sloth World faced a heartbreaking setback when 31 sloths slated for the exhibit died before the doors were due to open.
According to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report, many deaths occurred during shipments from South America and were tied to conditions at a Florida warehouse where the sloths were stored. In December 2024, 21 sloths shipped from Guyana died after exposure to cold in the Florida warehouse. In February 2025, two of 10 sloths traveling from Peru arrived dead, and the remaining eight appeared emaciated and later died from poor health issues.
Investigators noted the sequence of events and said that the deaths happened ahead of the planned opening of Sloth World, advertised as Orlando's only slotharium with a rainforest-inspired habitat designed to prioritize sloth well-being.
Sloth World’s owner has denied the allegations and said there is a lot of false information circulating. He said there was a virus involved in the sloths' health issues that showed barely any symptoms and was undetectable even after necropsy.
Officials say the case raises concerns about animal welfare and the oversight of wildlife imports. Sloth World is promoted as Orlando's only slotharium and planned to open this spring, but the investigation is ongoing.
